Bok choy dressed in a heavenly sesame, soy, garlic, ginger glaze – on your table in 10 minutes! The perfect side dish to all your Asian dishes!
Bok choy is a simple, healthy, quick dinner side that is extremely versatile and the answer to all your side dish woes. This bok choy recipe is made with minimal effort but HUGE flavor from a simple sauce of soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, Asian sweet chili sauce, garlic and ginger. And if you’ve never cooked with bok choy before, never fear! Bok choy is an easy-to-find, cabbage-like green that’s popular in Asian cuisine. In this post, I’m going to teach you how to select bok choy, how to prepare bok choy and how to cook bok choy using a simple skillet method to produce beautiful caramelized edges and crisp-tender stalks coated in a tantalizing sesame ginger glaze.
Bok choy is the answer to what do I serve with???? It is fabulous alongside Orange Chicken, Asian BBQ Salmon, Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken, General Tso’s Chicken, Mongolian Beef and on and on!
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Bok Choy Recipe
You will be obsessed with this bok choy recipe! It’s my go-to side for all my Asian recipes and will pull you out of your side-dish rut. This bok choy recipe:
- Goes with practically every Asian dish or you can swap out the sauce for lemon and garlic and serve it with non-Asian dishes as well.
- Is crazy flavorful as written but is also flexible; amp up or tone down the ginger, garlic and/or red pepper flakes.
- Literally takes 10 minutes to make – 5 to prep and 5 to cook.
- Is a nutritious powerhouse, boasting fiber, vitamins and beta-carotene.
Now I’m going to dive into all about bok choy, so read on or use the “skip to recipe button” at the top of the post to be taken directly to the recipe.
What is bok choy?
Bok choy, also known as Chinese white cabbage (brassica rapa spp. chinensis), pak choy or pok choi is a cruciferous vegetable in the same family as kale, cabbage, cauliflower and chard. Its name means “white vegetable” in Cantonese. It is one of the oldest cultivated vegetables, dating back to the 5th century AD in China. Due to its long history, bok choy is a staple ingredient in Asian dishes.
Bok choy is clustered at the bottom like celery with smooth, wide, flat stalks stemming from it, each terminating in a wide leaf. Bok choy is typically available in two sizes, baby bok choy and mature bok choy, both of which can be eaten raw or cooked. Baby bok choy can be cooked all at the same time but mature bok choy needs to be chopped into smaller pieces.
Bok choy is an extremely versatile vegetable and can be stir fried, steamed, roasted, grilled etc., added to soups and stir fries; the raw leaves can be tossed into fresh salads and the fresh stalks can be added to slaws. Best of all, bok choy is packed with healthy nutrients, so it’s always a welcome addition to any meal – especially when it’s glistening with a soy, garlic ginger coating.
What Does Bok Choy Taste Like?
The great thing about bok choy is you get two different tasting experiences from the light, crisp, and crunchy stalks on the bottom and the dark green leaves on top. The stalks have a mildly sweet flavor and a crunchy, juicy texture that reminds me of celery. The leaves have a spinach-like taste with a very mild, peppery bitterness. As bok choy matures, the bitterness increases along with subtle mustardy notes.
What is the difference between Bok Choy and Baby Bok Choy?
Both bok choy and baby bok choy have a place in your kitchen. Here’s what sets them apart:
- Baby bok choy is the same vegetable as bok choy but is harvested earlier.
- Mature bok choy is about a foot long, whereas baby bok choy is about half that size.
- Mature bok choy has thicker stocks and a stronger more pungent flavor; baby bok choy is more mild and sweeter. Most people prefer baby bok choy over mature bok choy.
- As its name implies, baby bok choy is smaller and has thinner, more tender stalks and more tender leaves.
- Baby bok choy can be cooked whole but mature bok choy should be chopped.
- Baby bok choy can be served fresh in salads, slaws, etc. but mature bok choy is best cooked.
Bok Choy Nutrition
Let’s talk about one more reason to love bok choy – it is super good for you! In fact, bok choy ranks sixth on the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) for fruits and vegetables, meaning it ranks sixth for the most nutrients per calorie (vitamins, minerals and antioxidant capacity).
In a nutshell, bok choy is low in carbohydrates and calories but high in fiber, glucosinolates, vitamins, minerals and nutrients, specifically vitamins A, C and K, beta-carotene and folate.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, 1 cup of raw bok choy, weighing 70 grams (g) contains:
- 9 calories
- 1.05 g of protein
- 1.53 g of carbohydrates
- 0.7 g of dietary fiber
- 0 g of cholesterol
- 31.5 mg of vitamin C
- 156 mcg of vitamin A (RAE)
- 31.9 mcg of vitamin K
- 46 micrograms (mcg) of folate
In addition to the nutrients above, bok choy contains small amounts of vitamin B6, potassium, iron, thiamine, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. All of these nutrients in bok choy help your body in many ways. For example:
- Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory that can boost immune health and reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. It also builds collagen, which forms body tissue and bone, and helps cuts and wounds heal.
- Vitamin K is important for maintaining bone health and wound healing; it helps produce four of the 13 proteins needed for blood clotting.
- Vitamin A helps support eye health, cell division, immune system, and reproduction. Vitamin A also helps the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs function properly. Vitamin A also has antioxidant properties which might protect your cells against the effects of free radicals, reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
- Folate is one of the B-vitamins and helps support cellular functions that gives you energy by breaking down carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It also helps your body build red blood cells which allows oxygen to be used by the body.
- Glucosinolates help protects against several chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
So, in addition to how yummy this bok choy recipe is, now you have dozens of reasons to consume bok choy regularly!
How to Choose Bok Choy
- Look for: bok choy stalks that are off-white without any rusty coloration. The stalks should be firm without any cracking. The leaves should be dark green without any wilting or spots.
- Avoid: any bok choy that doesn’t look fresh and perky. Avoid limp stalks, wilted or spotted leaves and discoloration of any kind.
How to Store bok choy
Store bok choy in a loose plastic bag in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator for up to 5 days. Don’t wash the bok choy until you’re ready to cook it or it can mold and wilt prematurely.
How to Prepare Bok Choy
Bok choy needs to be thoroughly washed before cooking. You will be amazed at how much dirt is hidden in the nooks and crannies, especially in between the stalks, near the base.
- Chopped bok choy: if you are going to chop the bok choy, then treat it like you would a head of lettuce and chop it up completely before washing it. To wash, add the chopped bok choy to a bowl of cold water and swish it around to remove all of the dirt, then rinse and drain. I find the easiest way to clean chopped bok choy is to just use a salad spinner and then pat dry.
- Individual stalks: plunge the separate stalks into a bowl of cold water or rinse each stalk individually. Pat or spin dry with a salad spinner.
- Whole: place the bok choy in a colander and rinse with cold water, rubbing any grit or dirt from between the leaves. If slicing bok choy lengthwise after washing, take care that the inside is dry too, especially for sauteing like in this recipe so the bok choy can caramelize and not steam.
How to cut bok choy
Large bok choy and baby bok choy can both be chopped, but only baby bok choy can be halved and still cook properly. Here’s how to cut bok choy and baby bok choy:
Large bok choy:
Large bok choy is typically chopped and treated as two separate vegetables – the stalks and the leaves because the stalks take much longer to cook. This means you’ll want to separate the greens from the whites when you chop.
- To start, chop off the top leafy green section. Stack the leaves on top of each other and cut crosswise into strips, then back the other direction to create desired size pieces.
- For the bottom, cut off the root end, about 1-inch from the base. Slice the stalks in half lengthwise, then the other way to create desired size pieces.
baby bok choy
Baby bok choy can be eaten whole, halved lengthwise, chopped or the stalks separated.
- Chopped: cut off the root end, about 1-inch from the bottom. Stack the stalks on top of each other and, depending on size, slice in half lengthwise or proceed directly into slicing crosswise. Chopped bok choy is great in stir fries.
- Cut lengthwise: Slice the bok choy in half lengthwise, from the leaves through the stem. Halved bok choy is great for sautéing, braising, grilling or roasting.
- Individual stalks: cut off the root end, about 1-inch from the bottom then separate the stalks. Individual stalks are great for stir frying.
Bok Choy Recipe Ingredients
This bok choy recipe uses pantry friendly ingredients to amp up the flavor of this favorite Chinese vegetable. You will need:
- Toasted sesame oil: adds an irresistible, subtle nutty flavor.
- Soy sauce: use reduced sodium soy sauce then salt to taste if desired.
- Rice vinegar: use unseasoned/natural rice vinegar.
- Asian sweet chili sauce: is not to be confused with Asian Chili sauce/paste without the “sweet.” It is sweet and spicy and packed with flavor from a combination of red chilies, onion, garlic, brown sugar and fish sauce. It can be found in the Asian section of your grocery store. It is sometimes labeled “Thai Sweet Chili Sauce.”
- Ginger: adds a warm spicy, almost pepper taste. You will need 2 teaspoons fresh or you may substitute with a heaping ½ teaspoon ground in a bind and add it directly to the sauce.
- Garlic: use more or less depending on your garlic love. You may substitute the fresh garlic with a heaping ½ teaspoon garlic powder in a bind and add it directly to the sauce.
- Red pepper flakes: optional for a subtle kick.
- Brown sugar: adds sweetness to balance the soy sauce and vinegar.
Recipe variations
- If you can only find regular bok choy instead of baby bok choy, you can use that in this recipe by chopping and stir frying.
- If stir frying, consider adding other vegetables such as onions, carrots, bell peppers or broccoli. You can also add shrimp, chicken or steak.
- Swap the soy sauce (or part of it) for hoisin, oyster or fish sauce.
- Swap the garlic for roasted garlic.
- You may also swap the flavor profile entirely and omit the sauce and in it’s place melt butter, saute garlic and add a splash of lemon juice and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
How to cook bok choy
Just like all vegetables, there are many ways to cook bok choy such as stir frying, sauteing, braising, steaming, roasting, grilling, etc. I prefer the dry-heat methods because they yield the best texture and flavor -win-win! Here’s how to cook the best bok choy:
- Prep the aromatic sauce first. The first thing you’ll want to do is whisk the sauce ingredients together of soy sauce, water, sesame oil, Asian sweet chili sauce, ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes together in a small bowl. This simple sauce is savory, salty, gingery, garlicky with a kick of heat and a kiss of sweet. You want the sauce all ready to go before you start cooking so you don’t have to pause and make it while your bok choy is cooking.
- Thoroughly wash and dry the bok choy. Place the bok choy in a colander and rinse with cold water, rubbing any grit or dirt from between the leaves; pat dry with a kitchen towel or paper towels. It is important to thoroughly dry the bok choy so it will sear and caramelize and not just steam.
- Cut bok choy. Cut each baby bok choy in half lengthwise. This gives you a flat surface to sear, keeps the bok choy intact for easy flipping and opens up the the bok choy so the sauce can envelop every nook and cranny.
- Sear bok choy for maximum flavor. We are essentially searing the bok choy just until the white parts are crisp-tender, about 4 to 5 minutes. Searing caramelizes the bok choy, adding a nutty, sweet dimension of flavor that can’t be achieved by other cooking methods. First, you’ll add the bok choy in a single layer cut side down in a nonstick skillet and cook without stirring until the bottom starts to caramelize, about 2 minutes.
- Using tongs, flip the bok choy over and cook until the stalks begin to soften but still have some crunch (the leaves will be wilted). Transfer to a plate.
- Simmer the flavorful sauce. Next, it’s time to add the sauce. Adding the sauce at the very end of cooking allows the bok choy to caramelize first. Simmering the sauce for just a minute or so awakens the garlic and ginger and reduces it to a sticky glaze.
- Combine. Add bok choy back to the skillet and turn with tongs until each bok choy halve is glazed in the heavenly soy, garlic ginger coating.
- Garnish. Transfer to a platter and garnish with sesame seeds.
Top Tips for This Bok Choy Recipe
- Thoroughly wash bok choy or else you’ll end up with grit in your recipe.
- Thoroughly dry bok choy so it can caramelize and doesn’t just steam.
- Use a nonstick skillet so the sauce doesn’t stick to the pan and burn.
- Use tongs to add the bok choy to the skillet and flip so you don’ burn yourself!
- Press bok choy down with tongs to ensure it makes contact with the skillet.
- It’s okay if the leaves of the bok choy don’t lay in the pan and go up the sides because they take less time cook than the stalks.
- The cooking time depends on how tender you want the stalks and wilted you want the leaves.
- Don’t overcook the sauce or the garlic can burn and make the sauce bitter.
- Whisk the sauce ingredients together first so the bok choy doesn’t have a chance to get cold while you stop and make the sauce.
- This bok choy recipe is best served warm.
How to Cook Bok Choy: 4 Ways
Seared bok choy is my favorite method of preparing bok choy but you can also cook it multiple ways using the same ingredients from this recipe:
- Braised: cut baby bok choy or more mature bok choy lengthwise. Combine ¾ cup chicken broth, and the rest of the sauce ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add bok choy and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, just until the stalks are crisp-tender.
- Stir-fried: Cut the bock choy crosswise to separate the white stalks and green leaves. Heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the whites and stir fry 3-4 minutes. Add the greens and soy sauce mixture and stir fry an additional 1-2 minutes or until leaves are gently wilted.
- Grilled: Cut the baby bok choy in half lengthwise. Whisk the sauce ingredients together; set aside. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat; brush with vegetable or canola oil. Place the bok choy cut side down on the grill pan and flip after 1 to 2 minutes. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes, or until boy choy is wilted. Simmer the sauce in a nonstick skillet just until thickened. Transfer bok choy to the sauce and stir to combine.
Storing and Reheating the Leftovers
- Storage: Leftover cooked bok choy can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days. The leftover stalks will be tasty but the greens can become mushy.
- Reheat: Reheat bok choy in skillet over medium-low just until warmed through.
What to Serve With Bok Choy
Bok choy is excellent to serve with any of your favorite Asian dishes. It pairs beautifully with:
- Asian main dish proteins. This bok choy recipe requires less than 10 minutes so it’s easy to whip up alongside your favorite Asian main dishes. It’s also cohesive with your main palate and doesn’t kill the vibe. Some of our favorite Asian proteins to serve with bok choy are Asian BBQ Salmon, Asian Caramel Pork, Honey Soy Salmon and Asian Burgers.
- Asian crockpot favorites. I love making Asian dishes in the crockpot because the slow cooker does all the work! This leaves you free to whip up nutritious, delicious bok choy. Some of our favorite crockpot dishes to serve with bok choy are Mongolian Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Cashew Chicken and Honey Garlic Chicken.
- Stir fries. Some stir fries are loaded with veggies, some stir fries have minimal veggies. Bok choy is perfect to serve alongside stir fries with minimal veggie such as Beef Bulgogi, Orange Chicken, Szechuan Beef, General Tso’s Chicken and Kung Pao Shrimp.
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Sesame Soy Bok Choy
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Ingredients
- 1 pound baby bok choy
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons less sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Asian sweet chili sauce
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Whisk the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl; set aside.
- Place the bok choy in a colander and rinse with cold water, rubbing any grit or dirt from between the leaves; pat dry with a kitchen towel or paper towels.
- Cut each bok choy in half lengthwise.
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bok choy in a single layer cut side down and cook without stirring until the bottoms start to brown, about 2 minutes. Using tongs, flip the bok choy over and cook until the stalks begin to soften but still have some crunch (the leaves will be wilted), about 2 additional minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add the sauce to the skillet. Simmer for 30 seconds or until slightly thickened whisking constantly (don’t burn the garlic!).
- Add bok choy back to the skillet and turn with tongs until the sauce glazes each bok choy halve.
- Transfer to a platter and garnish with sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Notes
Tips for This Bok Choy Recipe
- Ginger: you may substitute fresh ginger with a heaping ½ teaspoon ground ginger and add it directly to the sauce.
- Garlic: you may substitute fresh garlic with a heaping ½ teaspoon garlic powder and add it directly to the sauce.
- Asian sweet chili sauce: not to be confused with “Asian chili sauce” without the sweet. You may substitute with 1 teaspoon brown sugar and additional red pepper flakes.
- Thoroughly wash bok choy or else you’ll end up with grit in your recipe.
- Thoroughly dry bok choy so it can caramelize and doesn’t just steam.
- Use a nonstick skillet so the sauce doesn’t stick to the pan and burn.
- Press bok choy down with tongs to ensure it makes contact with the skillet.
- It’s okay if the leaves of the bok choy don’t lay in the pan and go up the sides because they take less time cook than the stalks.
- The cooking time depends on how tender you want the stalks and wilted you want the leaves.
- Don’t overcook the sauce or the garlic can burn and make the sauce bitter.
- This bok choy recipe is best served warm.
Storing and Reheating the Leftovers
- Storage: Leftover cooked bok choy can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days. The leftover stalks will be tasty but the greens can become mushy.
- Reheat: Reheat bok choy in skillet over medium-low just until warmed through.
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Recipe adapted from Cook’s Illustrated
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